Pepper hybrid ps 16376104

ABSTRACT

The invention provides seed and plants of pepper hybrid PS 16376104 and the parent lines thereof. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pepper hybrid PS 16376104 and the parent lines thereof, and to methods for producing a pepper plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another pepper plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of plant breeding and, morespecifically, to the development of pepper hybrid PS 16376104 and theinbred pepper lines SBR 163-5031 and SBR 163-5030.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The goal of vegetable breeding is to combine various desirable traits ina single variety/hybrid. Such desirable traits may include any traitdeemed beneficial by a grower and/or consumer, including greater yield,resistance to insects or disease, tolerance to environmental stress, andnutritional value.

Breeding techniques take advantage of a plant's method of pollination.There are two general methods of pollination: a plant self-pollinates ifpollen from one flower is transferred to the same or another flower ofthe same plant or plant variety. A plant cross-pollinates if pollencomes to it from a flower of a different plant variety.

Plants that have been self-pollinated and selected for type over manygenerations become homozygous at almost all gene loci and produce auniform population of true breeding progeny, a homozygous plant. A crossbetween two such homozygous plants of different genotypes produces auniform population of hybrid plants that are heterozygous for many geneloci. Conversely, a cross of two plants each heterozygous at a number ofloci produces a population of hybrid plants that differ genetically andare not uniform. The resulting non-uniformity makes performanceunpredictable.

The development of uniform varieties requires the development ofhomozygous inbred plants, the crossing of these inbred plants, and theevaluation of the crosses. Pedigree breeding and recurrent selection areexamples of breeding methods that have been used to develop inbredplants from breeding populations. Those breeding methods combine thegenetic backgrounds from two or more plants or various other broad-basedsources into breeding pools from which new lines and hybrids derivedtherefrom are developed by selfing and selection of desired phenotypes.The new lines and hybrids are evaluated to determine which of those havecommercial potential.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect, the present invention provides a pepper plant of thehybrid designated PS 16376104, the pepper line SBR 163-5031 or pepperline SBR 163-5030. Also provided are pepper plants having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of such a plant. Partsof these pepper plants are also provided, for example, including pollen,an ovule, scion, a rootstock, a fruit, and a cell of the plant.

In another aspect of the invention, a plant of pepper hybrid PS 16376104and/or pepper lines SBR 163-5031 and SBR 163-5030 comprising an addedheritable trait is provided. The heritable trait may comprise a geneticlocus that is, for example, a dominant or recessive allele. In oneembodiment of the invention, a plant of pepper hybrid PS 16376104 and/orpepper lines SBR 163-5031 and SBR 163-5030 is defined as comprising asingle locus conversion. In specific embodiments of the invention, anadded genetic locus confers one or more traits such as, for example,herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, disease resistance, and modifiedcarbohydrate metabolism. In further embodiments, the trait may beconferred by a naturally occurring gene introduced into the genome of aline by backcrossing, a natural or induced mutation, or a transgeneintroduced through genetic transformation techniques into the plant or aprogenitor of any previous generation thereof. When introduced throughtransformation, a genetic locus may comprise one or more genesintegrated at a single chromosomal location.

The invention also concerns the seed of pepper hybrid PS 16376104 and/orpepper lines SBR 163-5031 and SBR 163-5030. The pepper seed of theinvention may be provided as an essentially homogeneous population ofpepper seed of pepper hybrid PS 16376104 and/or pepper lines SBR163-5031 and SBR 163-5030. Essentially homogeneous populations of seedare generally free from substantial numbers of other seed. Therefore,seed of hybrid PS 16376104 and/or pepper lines SBR 163-5031 and SBR163-5030 may be defined as forming at least about 97% of the total seed,including at least about 98%, 99% or more of the seed. The seedpopulation may be separately grown to provide an essentially homogeneouspopulation of pepper plants designated PS 16376104 and/or pepper linesSBR 163-5031 and SBR 163-5030.

In yet another aspect of the invention, a tissue culture of regenerablecells of a pepper plant of hybrid PS 16376104 and/or pepper lines SBR163-5031 and SBR 163-5030 is provided. The tissue culture willpreferably be capable of regenerating pepper plants capable ofexpressing all of the physiological and morphological characteristics ofthe starting plant, and of regenerating plants having substantially thesame genotype as the starting plant. Examples of some of thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the hybrid PS16376104 and/or pepper lines SBR 163-5031 and SBR 163-5030 include thosetraits set forth in the tables herein. The regenerable cells in suchtissue cultures may be derived, for example, from embryos, meristems,cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, root tips, pistils, flowers,seed and stalks. Still further, the present invention provides pepperplants regenerated from a tissue culture of the invention, the plantshaving all the physiological and morphological characteristics of hybridPS 16376104 and/or pepper lines SBR 163-5031 and SBR 163-5030.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, processes are provided forproducing pepper seeds, plants and fruit, which processes generallycomprise crossing a first parent pepper plant with a second parentpepper plant, wherein at least one of the first or second parent pepperplants is a plant of pepper line SBR 163-5031 or pepper line SBR163-5030. These processes may be further exemplified as processes forpreparing hybrid pepper seed or plants, wherein a first pepper plant iscrossed with a second pepper plant of a different, distinct genotype toprovide a hybrid that has, as one of its parents, a plant of pepper lineSBR 163-5031 or pepper line SBR 163-5030. In these processes, crossingwill result in the production of seed. The seed production occursregardless of whether the seed is collected or not.

In one embodiment of the invention, the first step in “crossing”comprises planting seeds of a first and second parent pepper plant,often in proximity so that pollination will occur for example, mediatedby insect vectors. Alternatively, pollen can be transferred manually.Where the plant is self-pollinated, pollination may occur without theneed for direct human intervention other than plant cultivation.

A second step may comprise cultivating or growing the seeds of first andsecond parent pepper plants into plants that bear flowers. A third stepmay comprise preventing self-pollination of the plants, such as byemasculating the flowers (i.e., killing or removing the pollen).

A fourth step for a hybrid cross may comprise cross-pollination betweenthe first and second parent pepper plants. Yet another step comprisesharvesting the seeds from at least one of the parent pepper plants. Theharvested seed can be grown to produce a pepper plant or hybrid pepperplant.

The present invention also provides the pepper seeds and plants producedby a process that comprises crossing a first parent pepper plant with asecond parent pepper plant, wherein at least one of the first or secondparent pepper plants is a plant of pepper hybrid PS 16376104 and/orpepper lines SBR 163-5031 and SBR 163-5030. In one embodiment of theinvention, pepper seed and plants produced by the process are firstgeneration (F₁) hybrid pepper seed and plants produced by crossing aplant in accordance with the invention with another, distinct plant. Thepresent invention further contemplates plant parts of such an F₁ hybridpepper plant, and methods of use thereof. Therefore, certain exemplaryembodiments of the invention provide an F₁ hybrid pepper plant and seedthereof.

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method ofproducing a plant derived from hybrid PS 16376104 and/or pepper linesSBR 163-5031 and SBR 163-5030, the method comprising the steps of: (a)preparing a progeny plant derived from hybrid PS 16376104 and/or pepperlines SBR 163-5031 and SBR 163-5030, wherein said preparing comprisescrossing a plant of the hybrid PS 16376104 and/or pepper lines SBR163-5031 and SBR 163-5030 with a second plant; and (b) crossing theprogeny plant with itself or a second plant to produce a seed of aprogeny plant of a subsequent generation. In further embodiments, themethod may additionally comprise: (c) growing a progeny plant of asubsequent generation from said seed of a progeny plant of a subsequentgeneration and crossing the progeny plant of a subsequent generationwith itself or a second plant; and repeating the steps for an additional3-10 generations to produce a plant derived from hybrid PS 16376104and/or pepper lines SBR 163-5031 and SBR 163-5030. The plant derivedfrom hybrid PS 16376104 and/or pepper lines SBR 163-5031 and SBR163-5030 may be an inbred line, and the aforementioned repeated crossingsteps may be defined as comprising sufficient inbreeding to produce theinbred line. In the method, it may be desirable to select particularplants resulting from step (c) for continued crossing according to steps(b) and (c). By selecting plants having one or more desirable traits, aplant derived from hybrid PS 16376104 and/or pepper lines SBR 163-5031and SBR 163-5030 is obtained which possesses some of the desirabletraits of the line/hybrid as well as potentially other selected traits.

In certain embodiments, the present invention provides a method ofproducing food or feed comprising: (a) obtaining a plant of pepperhybrid PS 16376104 and/or pepper lines SBR 163-5031 and SBR 163-5030,wherein the plant has been cultivated to maturity, and (b) collecting atleast one pepper from the plant.

In still yet another aspect of the invention, the genetic complement ofpepper hybrid PS 16376104 and/or pepper lines SBR 163-5031 and SBR163-5030 is provided. The phrase “genetic complement” is used to referto the aggregate of nucleotide sequences, the expression of whichsequences defines the phenotype of, in the present case, a pepper plant,or a cell or tissue of that plant. A genetic complement thus representsthe genetic makeup of a cell, tissue or plant, and a hybrid geneticcomplement represents the genetic make up of a hybrid cell, tissue orplant. The invention thus provides pepper plant cells that have agenetic complement in accordance with the pepper plant cells disclosedherein, and seeds and plants containing such cells.

Plant genetic complements may be assessed by genetic marker profiles,and by the expression of phenotypic traits that are characteristic ofthe expression of the genetic complement, e.g., isozyme typing profiles.It is understood that hybrid PS 16376104 and/or pepper lines SBR163-5031 and SBR 163-5030 could be identified by any of the many wellknown techniques such as, for example, Simple Sequence LengthPolymorphisms (SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 18:6531-6535, 1990), Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNAAmplification Fingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized AmplifiedRegions (SCARs), Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR),Amplified Fragment Length Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858,specifically incorporated herein by reference in its entirety), andSingle Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science,280:1077-1082, 1998).

In still yet another aspect, the present invention provides hybridgenetic complements, as represented by pepper plant cells, tissues,plants, and seeds, formed by the combination of a haploid geneticcomplement of a pepper plant of the invention with a haploid geneticcomplement of a second pepper plant, preferably, another, distinctpepper plant. In another aspect, the present invention provides a pepperplant regenerated from a tissue culture that comprises a hybrid geneticcomplement of this invention.

Any embodiment discussed herein with respect to one aspect of theinvention applies to other aspects of the invention as well, unlessspecifically noted.

The term “about” is used to indicate that a value includes the standarddeviation of the mean for the device or method being employed todetermine the value. The use of the term “or” in the claims is used tomean “and/or” unless explicitly indicated to refer to alternatives onlyor the alternatives are mutually exclusive. When used in conjunctionwith the word “comprising” or other open language in the claims, thewords “a” and “an” denote “one or more,” unless specifically notedotherwise. The terms “comprise,” “have” and “include” are open-endedlinking verbs. Any forms or tenses of one or more of these verbs, suchas “comprises,” “comprising,” “has,” “having,” “includes” and“including,” are also open-ended. For example, any method that“comprises,” “has” or “includes” one or more steps is not limited topossessing only those one or more steps and also covers other unlistedsteps. Similarly, any plant that “comprises,” “has” or “includes” one ormore traits is not limited to possessing only those one or more traitsand covers other unlisted traits.

Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention willbecome apparent from the following detailed description. It should beunderstood, however, that the detailed description and any specificexamples provided, while indicating specific embodiments of theinvention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changesand modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention willbecome apparent to those skilled in the art from this detaileddescription.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides methods and compositions relating to plants,seeds and derivatives of pepper hybrid PS 16376104, pepper line SBR163-5031 and pepper line SBR 163-5030.

PS 16376104 is a bell pepper adapted to climatic conditions and growingpractices encountered in Sinaloa, Mexico. It develops vigorous,generative plants with dark green leaves and an early yet continuous setof large high quality smooth dark green bell peppers. The variety isheterozygous for the following resistance genes: L1 for (resistance toTobamovirus pathotype P0), Bs2 (for resistance to resistance tobacterial leaf spot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria races 0-3,7, 8), Bs1 conferring resistance to bacterial leaf spot (Xanthomonascampestris pv. vesicatoria races 0, 2, and 5), and Bs3 conferringresistance to bacterial leaf spot (Xanthomonas campestris pv.vesicatoria races 0, 1, 4, 7, and 9). PS 16376104 is homozygous for thepvr1 gene conferring resistance to Potato virus Y (pathotypes 0, 1, and1.2), Pepper mottle virus, and some strains of Tobacco etch virus (TEV).The variety also has intermediate resistance to Phytophthora capsici.The variety is comparable to REVELATION, but exhibits earlier maturity,has resistance to additional races of Xanthamonas campestris pv.vesicatoria. The fruit is of a high quality with smooth shapes, glossyfinish and dark green color.

A. Origin and Breeding History of Pepper Hybrid PS 16376104

The parents of hybrid PS 16376104 are SBR 163-5031 and SBR 163-5030.These parents were created as follows:

The female (seed) parent of PS 16376104 is SBR 163-5031. The male(pollen) parent for P δ 16376104 is SBR 163-5030.

SBR 163-5031 develops a medium sized plant that produces large, blocky,firm fruit. The length/diameter ratio is from 1.0-1.1. The fruit maturesfrom a medium green to red. The anthers of the flower are yellow withsome purple on the edges. SBR 163-5031 contains the Bs2 resistance geneconferring resistance to bacterial leaf spot (Xanthomonas campestris pv.vesicatoria races 0-3, 7, 8), the Bs3 resistance gene conferringresistance to bacterial leaf spot (Xanthomonas campestris pv.vesicatoria races 0, 1, 4, 7, and 9), the pvr1 gene conferringresistance to Potato virus Y (pathotypes 0, 1, and 1.2), Pepper mottlevirus, and some strains of Tobacco etch virus (TEV). It also hasintermediate resistance to Phytophthora capsici.

SBR 163-5031 was developed by pedigree selection from Seminis hybrid SVR99 3 0670. This hybrid resulted from the cross between female ‘02LB09349-M’ and male ‘03LB 04804-01’.

The parent ‘02LB 09349-M’ is a green immature to red mature blocky bellpepper. The line contains the Bs2 resistance gene conferring resistanceto bacterial leaf spot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria races0-3, 7, 8), the pvr1 gene conferring resistance to Potato virus Y(pathotypes 0, 1, and 1.2), Pepper mottle virus, and some strains ofTobacco etch virus (TEV). ‘02LB 09349-M’ also has intermediateresistance to Phytophthora capsici. The parent, ‘03LB 04804-01,’ is agreen immature to yellow mature blocky pepper that develops ananthocyaninless plant and contains the Bs2 resistance gene conferringresistance to bacterial leaf spot (Xanthomonas campestris pv.vesicatoria races 0-3, 7, 8), the Bs3 resistance gene conferringresistance to bacterial leaf spot (Xanthomonas campestris pv.vesicatoria races 0, 1, 4, 7, and 9), the pvr1 gene conferringresistance to Potato virus Y (pathotypes 0, 1, and 1.2), Pepper mottlevirus, and some strains of Tobacco etch virus (TEV). ‘03LB 04804-01’segregates for the L1 resistance gene conferring resistance to Tobamovirus (P0), the pvr1 gene conferring resistance to Potato virus Y(pathotypes 0, 1, and 1.2), Pepper mottle virus, and some strains ofTobacco etch virus (TEV). Neither parent was marketed directly as anopen pollinated line.

SBR 163-5031 differs from ‘02LB 09349-M’ in that it contain the Bs3 geneand ‘02LB 09349-M’ does not. SBR 163-5031 differs from ‘03LB 04804-01’because it has intermediate resistance to Phytophthora capsici and ‘03LB04804-01’ does not. ‘03LB 04804-01’ is anthocyaninless and SBR 163-5031is not.

The crossing and selections were made as follows:

January, Year 1 Breeders produced the hybrid SVR 99 3 0670 from parentsusing ‘02LB 09349-M’ as the female (the “seed parent”) and ‘03LB04804-01’ as the male (the “pollen parent”). January, Year 2 Planted theF₁ hybrid, SVR 99 3 0670. The hybrid was bulked. July, Year 2 Plantedthe F₂ line. Selections were made. January, Year 4 Planted the F₃ line.The line was found to be segregating for the anthocyaninless trait.Selections were made. July, Year 4 Planted F₄ inbred. In pathologytests, the line was found to be fixed for the Bs2, and Bs3 genes. Theline was found to be segregating for the pvr1 gene and theanthocyaninless gene. The line was found to have intermediate resistanceto Phytophthora capsici. Selections were made. July, Year 5 Planted F₅inbred. The line was found to be fixed for anthocyanin production at theanthocyaninless gene. Intermediate resistance to Phytophthora capsiciwas confirmed. Selections were made. January, Year 6 Planted F₆ inbred.Intermediate resistance to Phytophthora capsici was confirmed. The plotwas bulked. July, Year 6 Planted F₇ inbred. Intermediate resistance toPhytophthora capsici was confirmed. A selection was made. January, Year7 Planted F₈ inbred. Intermediate resistance to Phytophthora capsici wasconfirmed. The line was judged to be uniform and the plot was bulked.July, Year 7 The line was named SBR 163-5031 and was submitted tofoundation seed for further increase.

SBR 163-5031 has been observed as uniform and stable during the years2009 through 2011, and it is within commercially acceptable limits. Asis true with other sweet pepper inbreds, a small percentage of variantscan occur within commercially acceptable limits for almost anycharacteristic during the course of repeated multiplication. However, noknown variants were observed during the times that SBR 163-5031 wasobserved in field or greenhouse trials.

SBR 163-5030 develops a medium sized plant that produces medium tolarge, blocky, firm fruit. The length/diameter ratio is from 1.0-1.1.The fruit matures from a medium green to red. The anthers of the flowerare sulphur yellow indicating that the line is anthocyaninless. SBR163-5030 contains the L1 resistance gene conferring resistance to Tobamovirus (P0), the Bs1 resistance gene conferring resistance to bacterialleaf spot (Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria races 0, 2, and 5),the Bs3 resistance gene conferring resistance to bacterial leaf spot(Xanthomonas campestris pv. vesicatoria races 0, 1, 4, 7, and 9), thepvr1 gene conferring resistance to Potato virus Y (pathotypes 0, 1, and1.2), Pepper mottle virus, and some strains of Tobacco etch virus (TEV).

SBR 163-5030 was developed by pedigree selection from Seminis hybrid SVR99 4 1739. This hybrid resulted from the cross between female ‘03LB08596-02’ and male ‘03LB 08517-01’.

The parent ‘03LB 08596-02’ is a green immature to red mature blocky bellpepper. The line is anthocyaninless and contains the L1 resistance geneconferring resistance to Tobamo virus (P0), the Bs1 resistance geneconferring resistance to bacterial leaf spot (Xanthomonas campestris pv.vesicatoria races 0, 2, and 5), the Bs2 resistance gene conferringresistance to bacterial leaf spot (Xanthomonas campestris pv.vesicatoria races 0-3, 7, 8), the Bs3 resistance gene conferringresistance to bacterial leaf spot (Xanthomonas campestris pv.vesicatoria races 0, 1, 4, 7, and 9). The parent, ‘03LB 08517-01,’ is agreen immature to red mature blocky pepper that develops ananthocyaninless plant and contains the L1 resistance gene conferringresistance to Tobamo virus (P0), the pvr1 gene conferring resistance toPotato virus Y (pathotypes 0, 1, and 1.2), Pepper mottle virus, and somestrains of Tobacco etch virus (TEV). The line also has intermediateresistance to Phytophthora capsici. Neither parent was marketed directlyas an open pollinated line.

SBR 163-5030 differs from ‘03LB 08596-02’ in that it does not containthe Bs2 gene and ‘03LB 08596-02’ does. Also, SBR 163-5030 contains thepvr1 gene and ‘03LB 08596-02’ does. SBR 163-5030 differs from ‘03LB08517-01’ because it has the Bs1 and Bs3 genes and ‘03LB 08517-01’ doesnot. Also, it does not have intermediate resistance to Phytophthoracapsici and ‘03LB 08517-01’ does.

The crossing and selections were made as follows:

January, Year 1 Breeders produced the hybrid SVR 99 4 1739 from parentsusing ‘03LB 08596-02’ as the female (the “seed parent”) and ‘03LB08517-01’ as the male (the “pollen parent”), July, Year 1 Planted the F₁hybrid, SVR 99 4 1739. The hybrid was bulked. January, Year 2 Plantedthe F₂ line. Selections were made. July, Year 2 Planted the F₃ line. Inpathology tests, the line was susceptible Phytophthora capsici. Infurther pathology tests the line was found to be segregating for the Bs2and pvr1 genes. Selections were made January, Year 3 Planted F₄ inbred.In pathology tests, the line was found to be fixed for the Bs1, Bs3, andpvr1 resistance genes. The line was found to be fixed for thesusceptible allele of the Bs2 gene. Selections were made. July, Year 3Planted F₅ inbred. In pathology tests, the line was found to be fixedfor the resistance allele at the L₁ gene. Selections were made.February, Planted F₆ inbred. The plot was bulked. Year 4 January, Year 5Planted F₇ inbred. A selection was made. July, Year 5 Planted F₈ inbred.The line was judged to be uniform and the plot was bulked. January, Year6 The line was named SBR 163-5030 and was submitted to foundation seedfor further increase.

SBR 163-5030 has been observed as uniform and stable during the years2009 through 2011, and it is within commercially acceptable limits. Asis true with other sweet pepper inbreds, a small percentage of variantscan occur within commercially acceptable limits for almost anycharacteristic during the course of repeated multiplication. However, noknown variants were observed during the times that SBR 163-5030 wasobserved in field or greenhouse trials.

The parent lines are uniform and stable, as is a hybrid producedtherefrom. A small percentage of variants can occur within commerciallyacceptable limits for almost any characteristic during the course ofrepeated multiplication. However no variants are expected.

B. Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Pepper Hybrid PS16376104, Pepper Line SBR 163-5031 and Pepper Line SBR 163-5030

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a plant having the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of pepper hybrid PS 16376104 and the parent linesthereof. A description of the physiological and morphologicalcharacteristics of such plants is presented in Tables 1-3.

TABLE 1 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Hybrid PS16376104 Comparison Variety - Characteristic PS 16376104 Early CalWonder 1. Species C. annuum C. annuum 2. Maturity (in region of bestadaptability) days from transplanting until 58 70 mature green stagedays from transplanting until 90 96 mature red or yellow stage days fromdirect seeding until 97 109 mature green stage days from direct seedinguntil 129 134 mature red or yellow stage 3. Plant habit semi-spreadingcompact attitude upright/erect (De upright/erect Cayenne, Doux très longdes Landes, Piquant d'Algérie) plant height 43 cm 48.1 cm plant width 45cm 51.5 cm length of stem from cotyledon 11 cm 11.5 cm to first flowerlength of the third internode 94 mm 63.8 mm (from soil surface) lengthof stem short (Delphin, Trophy) medium shortened internode (in upperpresent (Fehér, absent part) Kalocsai 601, Kalocsai 702) number ofinternodes between more than three the first flower and the (Kalocsai702) shortened internodes (varieties with shortened internodes only)stem: hairiness of nodes weak (Andevalo, absent or very weak Clovis)height short (Albaregia) medium basal branches few (2-3) few branchflexibility willowy (Cayenne rigid Long Red) stem strength (breakageintermediate intermediate resistance) 4. Leaf length of blade long(Cupido, Dolmy, medium Encore, Mazurka, Monte) width of blade medium(Albaregia, medium Balaton, Danubia, Marconi, Merit) width 64 mm 57.4 mmlength 106 mm 107.5 mm petiole length 61 mm 45.8 mm color medium greenlight green color (RHS color chart) 137A 147A intensity of green colormedium (Doux très light long des Landes, Merit) mature leaf shape ovate(Balico, Sonar) ovate leaf and stem pubescence absent absent undulationof margin weak (Doux très long absent des Landes) blistering strong(Greygo, PAZ weak pallagi) profile in cross section flat (De Cayenne,moderately concave Recio) glossiness medium (Alby, Eolo) medium 5.Flower peduncle: attitude semi-drooping erect (Blondy) flowers per leafaxil 1 1 calyx lobes 6 6.4 petals 6 6.6 diameter 27 mm 24.9 mm corollacolor white white corolla throat markings yellow yellow anther colorpurple purple style length same as stamen same as stamenself-incompatibility absent absent 6. Fruit group Bell (Yolo Wonder L.)Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) color (before maturity) green (California greenWonder, Lamuyo) intensity of color (before medium medium maturity)immature fruit color medium green medium green immature fruit color (RHS144A 137A color chart) attitude/position drooping/pendent (Dedrooping/pendent Cayenne, Lamuyo) length long (Doux d'Espagne, mediumMajister) diameter very broad (Floridor, broad Ibleor, Inca, Joly rosso,Quadrato d'Asti, Surpas) ratio length/diameter small (Bucano, mediumTopgirl) calyx diameter 39.6 mm 30.3 mm fruit length 83.9 mm 72.5 mmfruit diameter at calyx 91.3 mm 69.2 mm attachment fruit diameter atmid-point 86.9 mm 74.3 mm flesh thickness at mid-point 6.2 mm 4.8 mmaverage number of fruits per 8.5 9.3 plant % large fruits (weight range:(weight range: 101 to 150) 120 to 179) 40% 35.9% % medium fruits (weightrange: (weight range: 51 to 100) 60 to 119) 31% 34.1% % small fruits(weight range: (weight range 1 to 50) 1 to 59) 29% 30.0% average fruitweight 102.2 114.4 gm fruit shape (longitudinal square (Delphin, Yolosquare section) Wonder) fruit shape (cross section, at quadrangularquadrangular level of placenta) sinuation of pericarp at basal absent orvery weak very weak part (Delphin, Kalocsai V- 2, Milord) sinuation ofpericarp absent or very weak very weak excluding basal part (Delphin,Milord) texture of surface smooth or very slightly smooth or veryslightly wrinkled (Milord) wrinkled color (at maturity) red (Fehér,Lamuyo) red intensity of color (at maturity) dark dark mature fruitcolor red red mature fruit color (RHS color 46A 46A chart) glossinessstrong (Doux italien, medium/moderate Trophy) stalk cavity present(Bingor, present Lamuyo) depth of stalk cavity deep (Osir, Quadratomedium d'Asti rosso, Surpas) pedicel length 51.1 mm 24.4 mm pedicelthickness 13.9 mm 6 mm pedicel shape curved curved pedicel cavitypresent present depth of pedicel cavity 20.8 mm 20.7 mm stalk: lengthmedium (Fehér, Sonar) medium stalk: thickness very thick (Domingo,medium Galaxy, Paraiso) base shape rounded cupped shape of apex verydepressed (Kerala, very depressed Monte, Osir) shape Bell (Yolo WonderL.) Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) set concentrated scattered depth ofinterloculary grooves medium (Clovis, medium Lamuyo, Marconi) number oflocules predominantly four and predominantly four and more (Palio, PAZmore szentesi) % fruits with three locules 27% 33% % fruits with fourlocules 67% 64% % fruits with five or more  6%  3% locules averagenumber of locules 3.8 3.9 thickness of flesh very thick (Dragox thickRoda, Regolo, Solario) calyx: aspect non-enveloping/non-enveloping/saucer- saucer-shaped shaped (Lamuyo, Sonar) pungencysweet sweet capsaicin in placenta absent (Sonar) absent flavor mildpepper flavor moderate glossiness shiny shiny 7. Seed seed cavity length64.3 mm 49.3 mm seed cavity diameter 73.1 mm 55 mm placenta length 21.2mm 23.1 mm number of seeds per fruit 90.4 80 grams per 1000 seeds 7.2 gm6.6 gm color yellow yellow 8. Anthocyanin seedling hypocotyl moderatemoderate stem absent absent coloration of nodes weak weak intensity ofcoloration of weak (California medium nodes wonder, Clio, Douxd'Espagne, Dous très long des Landes, Golden Calwonder) leaf absentabsent pedicel absent absent calyx absent absent anther present (Lamuyo)present fruit coloration moderate present beginning of flowering (1^(st)early (Carré doux extra early flower on 2^(nd) flowering node) hâtif,Cupido, Fehér, Flaviano, Lito, Trophy) time of maturity early (Fehér,Lady Bell, medium Topgirl) *These are typical values. Values may varydue to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalent arealso within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 2 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line SBR163-5031 CHARACTERISTICS SBR 163-5031 Early Cal Wonder 1. Species C.annuum C. annuum 2. Maturity (in region of best adaptability) days fromtransplanting until 59 66 mature green stage days from transplantinguntil 85 106 mature red or yellow stage days from direct seeding until102 108 mature green stage days from direct seeding until 128 147 maturered or yellow stage 3. Plant habit semi-spreading semi-spreadingattitude upright/erect upright/erect (De Cayenne, Doux très long desLandes, Piquant d'Algérie) plant height 50.8 cm 47.5 cm plant width 47.7cm 55.1 cm length of stem from cotyledon 15 cm 11.4 cm to first flowerlength of the third internode 108 mm 71.8 mm (from soil surface) lengthof stem medium (Belsir, short Lamuyo) shortened internode (in upperpresent (Fehér, present part) Kalocsai 601, Kalocsai 702) for varietieswith shortened more than three one to three internodes only: Plant:(Kalocsai 702) number of internodes between the first flower and theshortened internodes stem: hairiness of nodes weak (Andevalo, absent orvery weak Clovis) height short (Albaregia) short basal branches few(2-3) few branch flexibility willowy (Cayenne willowy Long Red) stemstrength (breakage strong strong resistance) length of blade medium(Atol, Blondy, long Marconi, Merit, Anthea) width of blade medium(Albaregia, medium Balaton, Danubia, Marconi, Merit) 4. Leaf leaf width58.3 mm 53.25 mm leaf length 106 mm 115.3 mm petiole length 65.7 mm 63.2mm color medium green dark green RHS Color Chart Value 137A 137Aintensity of green color medium (Doux très dark long des Landes, Merit)mature leaf shape lanceolate (Diavolo, lanceolate Recio) leaf and stempubescence absent absent undulation of margin medium (Tenor) absentblistering medium (Merit) very weak profile in cross section moderatelyconcave moderately concave (Doux italien, Favolor) glossiness weak (DeCayenne, very weak Doux très long des Landes) peduncle: attitudesemi-drooping erect (Blondy) 5. Flower flowers per leaf axil 1.2 1 calyxlobes 6.6 6.85 petals 6.8 7.15 diameter 26.9 mm 27.35 mm corolla colorwhite white corolla throat markings white white anther color yellowyellow style length exceeds stamen exceeds stamen self-incompatibilityabsent absent 6. Fruit group Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) Bell (Yolo Wonder L.)color (before maturity) green (California green wonder, Lamuyo)intensity of color (before dark light maturity) immature fruit colordark green light green immature fruit color 137A 144A RHS Color Chartvalue attitude/position drooping/pendent (De erect/upright Cayenne,Lamuyo) length medium (Fehér, medium Lamuyo) diameter medium (Douxitalien, medium Corno di toro) ratio length/diameter medium (Adra,Cherry small Sweet, Daniel, Delphin, Edino) calyx diameter 28.6 mm 31.2mm length 59.7 mm 69.2 mm diameter at calyx attachment 58.1 mm 66.3 mmdiameter at mid-point 63.5 mm 69 mm flesh thickness at mid-point 3.9 mm4 mm average number of fruits per 11.1 9.45 plant % large fruits (weightrange: (weight range: 101 to 110) 101 to 200) 5.60% 26.00% % mediumfruits (weight range: (weight range: 51 to 100) 51 to 100) 55.20% 38.00%% small fruits (weight range: (weight range: 1 to 50) 1 to 50) 39.20%36.00% average fruit weight 40.5 gm 104.3 gm shape in longitudinalsection square (Delphin, Yolo square Wonder) shape in cross section (atlevel circular (Cherry Sweet, quad-rangular of placenta) Doux très longdes Landes) sinuation of pericarp at basal weak (Donat) medium partsinuation of pericarp weak (Clovis, Sonar) weak excluding basal parttexture of surface smooth or very slightly smooth or very slightlywrinkled (Milord) wrinkled color (at maturity) red (Fehér, Lamuyo) redintensity of color (at maturity) dark dark mature fruit color red redmature fruit color RHS Color 44A N34A Chart value glossinessmedium/moderate shiny (Carré doux extra hâtif, Lamuyo, Sonar) stalkcavity present (Bingor, present Lamuyo) depth of stalk cavity medium(Lamuyo, medium Magister) pedicel length 38.5 mm 26.1 mm pedicelthickness 7.5 mm 6.65 mm pedicel shape curved straight pedicel cavitypresent present depth of pedicel cavity 16.5 mm 19.6 mm stalk: lengthlong (De Cayenne, medium Sierra Nevada, Sweet banana) stalk: thicknessmedium (Doux italien, medium Surpas) base shape cupped cupped shape ofapex moderately depressed moderately depressed (Quadrato a'Asti rosso)(Quadrato a'Asti rosso) shape oblate (Sunnybrook) oblate (Sunnybrook)set concentrated concentrated depth of interloculary grooves medium(Clovis, medium Lamuyo, Marconi) number of locules predominantly fourand equally three and four more (Palio, PAZ szentesi) % fruits with onelocule    0%    0% % fruits with two locules    0%    0% % fruits withthree locules   20%   36% % fruits with four locules 66.70% 60.50% %fruits with five or more 13.30%  3.50% locules average number of locules3.9 3.65 thickness of flesh medium (Fehér, medium Lamuyo) calyx: aspectnon-enveloping/ non-enveloping/saucer- saucer-shaped shaped (Lamuyo,Sonar) pungency sweet sweet capsaicin in placenta absent (Sonar) absentflavor moderate pepper flavor strong pepper flavor glossiness shinyshiny 7. Seed seed cavity length 51.5 mm 59.1 mm seed cavity diameter54.6 mm 61.5 mm placenta length 25.1 mm 24.5 mm number of seeds perfruit 21 63.1 grams per 1000 seeds 5 gm 5 gm color yellow yellow 8.Seedling anthocyanin coloration of strong (Lamuyo) moderate hypocotylplant: anthocyanin coloration absent absent of stem plant: anthocyanincoloration weak moderate of nodes stem: intensity of anthocyanin weak(California strong coloration of nodes wonder, Clio, Doux d'Espagne,Dous très long des Landes, Golden calwonder) plant: anthocyanincoloration absent absent of leaf plant: anthocyanin coloration absentabsent of pedicel plant: anthocyanin coloration absent absent of calyxflower: anthocyanin present (Lamuyo) present coloration in anther fruit:anthocyanin coloration moderate moderate beginning of flowering (1^(st)early (Carré doux extra late flower on 2^(nd) flowering node) hâtif,Cupido, Fehér, Flaviano, Lito, Trophy0 time of maturity early (Fehér,Lady Bell, medium Topgirl) *These are typical values. Values may varydue to environment. Other values that are substantially equivalent arealso within the scope of the invention.

TABLE 3 Physiological and Morphological Characteristics of Line SBR163-5030 CHARACTERISTIC SBR 163-5030 Early Cal Wonder 1. Species C.annuum C. annuum 2. Maturity (in region of best adaptability) days fromtransplanting until 59 66 mature green stage days from transplantinguntil 85 106 mature red or yellow stage days from direct seeding until102 108 mature green stage days from direct seeding until 128 147 maturered or yellow stage 3. Plant habit compact semi-spreading attitudeupright/erect upright/erect (De Cayenne, Doux très long des Landes,Piquant d'Algérie) plant height 46.2 cm 47.5 cm plant width 46.8 cm 55.1cm length of stem from cotyledon 15.8 cm 11.4 cm to first flower lengthof the third internode 90 mm 71.8 mm (from soil surface) length of stemmedium (Belsir, short Lamuyo) shortened internode (in upper present(Fehér, present part) Kalocsai 601, Kalocsai 702) for varieties withshortened more than three one to three internodes only: Plant: (Kalocsai702) number of internodes between the first flower and the shortenedinternodes stem: hairiness of nodes weak (Andevalo, absent or very weakClovis) height short (Albaregia) short basal branches few (2-3) fewbranch flexibility willowy (Cayenne willowy Long Red) stem strength(breakage strong strong resistance) length of blade medium (Atol,Blondy, long Marconi, Merit, Anthea) width of blade medium (Albaregia,medium Balaton, Danubia, Marconi, Merit) 4. Leaf leaf width 66.6 mm53.25 mm leaf length 117.6 mm 115.3 mm petiole length 69.2 mm 63.2 mmcolor dark green dark green RHS Color Chart Value 137A 137A intensity ofgreen color dark (Dolmy, Tinto) dark mature leaf shape ovate (Balico,Sonar) lanceolate leaf and stem pubescence absent absent undulation ofmargin medium (Tenor) absent blistering medium (Merit) very weak profilein cross section moderately concave moderately concave (Doux italien,Favolor) glossiness very weak (Diavolo) very weak peduncle: attitudesemi-drooping erect (Blondy) 5. Flower flowers per leaf axil 1 1 calyxlobes 6.2 6.85 petals 6 7.15 diameter 30.3 mm 27.35 mm corolla colorwhite white corolla throat markings white white anther color yellowyellow style length exceeds stamen exceeds stamen self-incompatibilityabsent absent 6. Fruit group Bell (Yolo Wonder L.) Bell (Yolo Wonder L.)color (before maturity) green (California green wonder, Lamuyo)intensity of color (before dark light maturity) immature fruit colordark green light green immature fruit color 137A 144A RHS Color Chartvalue attitude/position drooping/pendent (De erect/upright Cayenne,Lamuyo) length short (Delphin, Petit medium carré doux) diameter medium(Doux italien, medium Corno di toro) ratio length/diameter medium (Adra,Cherry small Sweet, Daniel, Delphin, Edino) calyx diameter 29.7 mm 31.2mm length 58.8 mm 69.2 mm diameter at calyx attachment 61.6 mm 66.3 mmdiameter at mid-point 70.3 mm 69 mm flesh thickness at mid-point 3.5 mm4 mm average number of fruits per 7.1 9.45 plant % large fruits (weightrange: (weight range: 101 to 110) 101 to 200) 5.60% 26.00% % mediumfruits (weight range: (weight range: 51 to 100) 51 to 100) 55.20% 38.00%% small fruits (weight range: (weight range: 1 to 50) 1 to 50) 39.20%36.00% average fruit weight 56.2 gm 104.3 gm shape in longitudinalsection square (Delphin, Yolo square Wonder) shape in cross section (atlevel circular (Cherry Sweet, quad-rangular of placenta) Doux très longdes Landes) sinuation of pericarp at basal weak (Donat) medium partsinuation of pericarp weak (Clovis, Sonar) weak excluding basal parttexture of surface smooth or very slightly smooth or very slightlywrinkled (Milord) wrinkled color (at maturity) red (Fehér, Lamuyo) redintensity of color (at maturity) dark dark mature fruit color red redmature fruit color RHS Color N34A N34A Chart value glossiness strong(Doux italien, shiny Trophy) stalk cavity present (Bingor, presentLamuyo) depth of stalk cavity shallow (Delphin, medium Doux italien,Fehér, Latino) pedicel length 35.8 mm 26.1 mm pedicel thickness 6.6 mm6.65 mm pedicel shape curved straight pedicel cavity present presentdepth of pedicel cavity 12.1 mm 19.6 mm stalk: length medium (Fehér,Sonar) medium stalk: thickness thick (Lamuyo, Trophy medium Palio) baseshape cupped cupped shape of apex moderately depressed moderatelydepressed (Quadrato a'Asti rosso) (Quadrato a'Asti rosso) shape oblate(Sunnybrook) oblate (Sunnybrook) set concentrated concentrated depth ofinterloculary grooves shallow (Milord, medium Topgirl) number of loculespredominantly four and equally three and four more (Palio, PAZ szentesi)% fruits with one locule 0% 0% % fruits with two locules 0% 0% % fruitswith three locules 13.40%    36%  % fruits with four locules 86.60%   60.50%    % fruits with five or more 0% 3.50%   locules average numberof locules 3.8 3.65 thickness of flesh medium (Fehér, medium Lamuyo)calyx: aspect non-enveloping/ non-enveloping/saucer- saucer-shapedshaped (Lamuyo, Sonar) pungency sweet sweet capsaicin in placenta absent(Sonar) absent flavor strong pepper flavor strong pepper flavorglossiness shiny shiny 7. Seed seed cavity length 45 mm 59.1 mm seedcavity diameter 57.5 mm 61.5 mm placenta length 23 mm 24.5 mm number ofseeds per fruit 79.3 63.1 grams per 1000 seeds 7 gm 5 gm color yellowyellow 8. Seedling anthocyanin coloration of absent (Albaregia, moderatehypocotyl Albena) plant: anthocyanin coloration absent absent of stemplant: anthocyanin coloration weak moderate of nodes stem: intensity ofanthocyanin weak (California strong coloration of nodes wonder, Clio,Doux d'Espagne, Dous très long des Landes, Golden calwonder) plant:anthocyanin coloration absent absent of leaf plant: anthocyanincoloration absent absent of pedicel plant: anthocyanin coloration absentabsent of calyx flower: anthocyanin absent (Danza) present coloration inanther fruit: anthocyanin coloration moderate moderate beginning offlowering (1^(st) medium (Lamuyo, late flower on 2^(nd) flowering node)Latino) time of maturity early (Fehér, Lady Bell, medium Topgirl) *Theseare typical values. Values may vary due to environment. Other valuesthat are substantially equivalent are also within the scope of theinvention.

C. Breeding Pepper Plants

One aspect of the current invention concerns methods for producing seedof pepper hybrid PS 16376104 involving crossing pepper lines SBR163-5031 and SBR 163-5030. Alternatively, in other embodiments of theinvention, hybrid PS 16376104, line SBR 163-5031, or line SBR 163-5030may be crossed with itself or with any second plant. Such methods can beused for propagation of hybrid PS 16376104 and/or the pepper lines SBR163-5031 and SBR 163-5030, or can be used to produce plants that arederived from hybrid PS 16376104 and/or the pepper lines SBR 163-5031 andSBR 163-5030. Plants derived from hybrid PS 16376104 and/or the pepperlines SBR 163-5031 and SBR 163-5030 may be used, in certain embodiments,for the development of new pepper varieties.

The development of new varieties using one or more starting varieties iswell known in the art. In accordance with the invention, novel varietiesmay be created by crossing hybrid PS 16376104 followed by multiplegenerations of breeding according to such well known methods. Newvarieties may be created by crossing with any second plant. In selectingsuch a second plant to cross for the purpose of developing novel lines,it may be desired to choose those plants which either themselves exhibitone or more selected desirable characteristics or which exhibit thedesired characteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Once initialcrosses have been made, inbreeding and selection take place to producenew varieties. For development of a uniform line, often five or moregenerations of selfing and selection are involved.

Uniform lines of new varieties may also be developed by way ofdouble-haploids. This technique allows the creation of true breedinglines without the need for multiple generations of selfing andselection. In this manner true breeding lines can be produced in aslittle as one generation. Haploid embryos may be produced frommicrospores, pollen, anther cultures, or ovary cultures. The haploidembryos may then be doubled autonomously, or by chemical treatments(e.g. colchicine treatment). Alternatively, haploid embryos may be growninto haploid plants and treated to induce chromosome doubling. In eithercase, fertile homozygous plants are obtained. In accordance with theinvention, any of such techniques may be used in connection with a plantof the invention and progeny thereof to achieve a homozygous line.

Backcrossing can also be used to improve an inbred plant. Backcrossingtransfers a specific desirable trait from one inbred or non-inbredsource to an inbred that lacks that trait. This can be accomplished, forexample, by first crossing a superior inbred (A) (recurrent parent) to adonor inbred (non-recurrent parent), which carries the appropriate locusor loci for the trait in question. The progeny of this cross are thenmated back to the superior recurrent parent (A) followed by selection inthe resultant progeny for the desired trait to be transferred from thenon-recurrent parent. After five or more backcross generations withselection for the desired trait, the progeny have the characteristicbeing transferred, but are like the superior parent for most or almostall other loci. The last backcross generation would be selfed to givepure breeding progeny for the trait being transferred.

The plants of the present invention are particularly well suited for thedevelopment of new lines based on the elite nature of the geneticbackground of the plants. In selecting a second plant to cross with PS16376104 and/or pepper lines SBR 163-5031 and SBR 163-5030 for thepurpose of developing novel pepper lines, it will typically be preferredto choose those plants which either themselves exhibit one or moreselected desirable characteristics or which exhibit the desiredcharacteristic(s) when in hybrid combination. Examples of desirabletraits may include, in specific embodiments, high seed yield, high seedgermination, seedling vigor, high fruit yield, disease tolerance orresistance, and adaptability for soil and climate conditions.Consumer-driven traits, such as a fruit shape, color, texture, and tasteare other examples of traits that may be incorporated into new lines ofpepper plants developed by this invention.

D. Performance Characteristics

As described above, hybrid PS 16376104 exhibits desirable traits, asconferred by pepper lines SBR 163-5031 and SBR 163-5030. The performancecharacteristics of hybrid PS 16376104 and pepper lines SBR 163-5031 andSBR 163-5030 were the subject of an objective analysis of theperformance traits relative to other varieties. The results of theanalysis are presented below.

TABLE 4 Performance Characteristics for Hybrid PS 16376104 andComparative varieties Yield Variety TONS PER HECTARE BOXES PER HECTAREREVELATION 82,328.751 8205 CRUZADER 94,247.665 7810 PS 1637610490,063.003 7812

TABLE 5 Percentage of Boxes per Size and Quality for Hybrid PS 16376104and Comparative varieties EXPORT NATIONAL XL L M SM XL L M SM REVELATION13% 19% 36% 22% 1% 3% 3% 3% CRUZADER  6% 14% 21% 39% 0% 2% 4% 7% PS16376104 13% 26% 30% 18% 3% 2% 2% 5% XL—Extra Large L—Large M—MediumSM—Small

E. Further Embodiments of the Invention

In certain aspects of the invention, plants described herein areprovided modified to include at least a first desired heritable trait.Such plants may, in one embodiment, be developed by a plant breedingtechnique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to a genetic locus transferred into the plant viathe backcrossing technique. The term single locus converted plant asused herein refers to those pepper plants which are developed by a plantbreeding technique called backcrossing, wherein essentially all of themorphological and physiological characteristics of a variety arerecovered in addition to the single locus transferred into the varietyvia the backcrossing technique. By essentially all of the morphologicaland physiological characteristics, it is meant that the characteristicsof a plant are recovered that are otherwise present when compared in thesame environment, other than an occasional variant trait that mightarise during backcrossing or direct introduction of a transgene.

Backcrossing methods can be used with the present invention to improveor introduce a characteristic into the present variety. The parentalpepper plant which contributes the locus for the desired characteristicis termed the nonrecurrent or donor parent. This terminology refers tothe fact that the nonrecurrent parent is used one time in the backcrossprotocol and therefore does not recur. The parental pepper plant towhich the locus or loci from the nonrecurrent parent are transferred isknown as the recurrent parent as it is used for several rounds in thebackcrossing protocol.

In a typical backcross protocol, the original variety of interest(recurrent parent) is crossed to a second variety (nonrecurrent parent)that carries the single locus of interest to be transferred. Theresulting progeny from this cross are then crossed again to therecurrent parent and the process is repeated until a pepper plant isobtained wherein essentially all of the morphological and physiologicalcharacteristics of the recurrent parent are recovered in the convertedplant, in addition to the single transferred locus from the nonrecurrentparent.

The selection of a suitable recurrent parent is an important step for asuccessful backcrossing procedure. The goal of a backcross protocol isto alter or substitute a single trait or characteristic in the originalvariety. To accomplish this, a single locus of the recurrent variety ismodified or substituted with the desired locus from the nonrecurrentparent, while retaining essentially all of the rest of the desiredgenetic, and therefore the desired physiological and morphologicalconstitution of the original variety. The choice of the particularnonrecurrent parent will depend on the purpose of the backcross; one ofthe major purposes is to add some commercially desirable trait to theplant. The exact backcrossing protocol will depend on the characteristicor trait being altered and the genetic distance between the recurrentand nonrecurrent parents. Although backcrossing methods are simplifiedwhen the characteristic being transferred is a dominant allele, arecessive allele, or an additive allele (between recessive anddominant), may also be transferred. In this instance it may be necessaryto introduce a test of the progeny to determine if the desiredcharacteristic has been successfully transferred.

In one embodiment, progeny pepper plants of a backcross in which a plantdescribed herein is the recurrent parent comprise (i) the desired traitfrom the non-recurrent parent and (ii) all of the physiological andmorphological characteristics of pepper the recurrent parent asdetermined at the 5% significance level when grown in the sameenvironmental conditions.

New varieties can also be developed from more than two parents. Thetechnique, known as modified backcrossing, uses different recurrentparents during the backcrossing. Modified backcrossing may be used toreplace the original recurrent parent with a variety having certain moredesirable characteristics or multiple parents may be used to obtaindifferent desirable characteristics from each.

With the development of molecular markers associated with particulartraits, it is possible to add additional traits into an established germline, such as represented here, with the end result being substantiallythe same base germplasm with the addition of a new trait or traits.Molecular breeding, as described in Moose and Mumm, 2008 (PlantPhysiology, 147: 969-977), for example, and elsewhere, provides amechanism for integrating single or multiple traits or QTL into an eliteline. This molecular breeding-facilitated movement of a trait or traitsinto an elite line may encompass incorporation of a particular genomicfragment associated with a particular trait of interest into the eliteline by the mechanism of identification of the integrated genomicfragment with the use of flanking or associated marker assays. In theembodiment represented here, one, two, three or four genomic loci, forexample, may be integrated into an elite line via this methodology. Whenthis elite line containing the additional loci is further crossed withanother parental elite line to produce hybrid offspring, it is possibleto then incorporate at least eight separate additional loci into thehybrid. These additional loci may confer, for example, such traits as adisease resistance or a fruit quality trait. In one embodiment, eachlocus may confer a separate trait. In another embodiment, loci may needto be homozygous and exist in each parent line to confer a trait in thehybrid. In yet another embodiment, multiple loci may be combined toconfer a single robust phenotype of a desired trait.

Many single locus traits have been identified that are not regularlyselected for in the development of a new inbred but that can be improvedby backcrossing techniques. Single locus traits may or may not betransgenic; examples of these traits include, but are not limited to,herbicide resistance, resistance to bacterial, fungal, or viral disease,insect resistance, modified fatty acid or carbohydrate metabolism, andaltered nutritional quality. These comprise genes generally inheritedthrough the nucleus.

Direct selection may be applied where the single locus acts as adominant trait. For this selection process, the progeny of the initialcross are assayed for viral resistance and/or the presence of thecorresponding gene prior to the backcrossing. Selection eliminates anyplants that do not have the desired gene and resistance trait, and onlythose plants that have the trait are used in the subsequent backcross.This process is then repeated for all additional backcross generations.

Selection of pepper plants for breeding is not necessarily dependent onthe phenotype of a plant and instead can be based on geneticinvestigations. For example, one can utilize a suitable genetic markerwhich is closely genetically linked to a trait of interest. One of thesemarkers can be used to identify the presence or absence of a trait inthe offspring of a particular cross, and can be used in selection ofprogeny for continued breeding. This technique is commonly referred toas marker assisted selection. Any other type of genetic marker or otherassay which is able to identify the relative presence or absence of atrait of interest in a plant can also be useful for breeding purposes.Procedures for marker assisted selection are well known in the art. Suchmethods will be of particular utility in the case of recessive traitsand variable phenotypes, or where conventional assays may be moreexpensive, time consuming or otherwise disadvantageous. Types of geneticmarkers which could be used in accordance with the invention include,but are not necessarily limited to, Simple Sequence Length Polymorphisms(SSLPs) (Williams et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 1 8:6531-6535, 1990),Randomly Amplified Polymorphic DNAs (RAPDs), DNA AmplificationFingerprinting (DAF), Sequence Characterized Amplified Regions (SCARs),Arbitrary Primed Polymerase Chain Reaction (AP-PCR), Amplified FragmentLength Polymorphisms (AFLPs) (EP 534 858, specifically incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety), and Single NucleotidePolymorphisms (SNPs) (Wang et al., Science, 280:1077-1082, 1998).

F. Plants Derived by Genetic Engineering

Many useful traits that can be introduced by backcrossing, as well asdirectly into a plant, are those which are introduced by genetictransformation techniques. Genetic transformation may therefore be usedto insert a selected transgene into a plant of the invention or may,alternatively, be used for the preparation of transgenes which can beintroduced by backcrossing. Methods for the transformation of plantsthat are well known to those of skill in the art and applicable to manycrop species include, but are not limited to, electroporation,microprojectile bombardment, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation anddirect DNA uptake by protoplasts.

To effect transformation by electroporation, one may employ eitherfriable tissues, such as a suspension culture of cells or embryogeniccallus or alternatively one may transform immature embryos or otherorganized tissue directly. In this technique, one would partiallydegrade the cell walls of the chosen cells by exposing them topectin-degrading enzymes (pectolyases) or mechanically wound tissues ina controlled manner.

An efficient method for delivering transforming DNA segments to plantcells is microprojectile bombardment. In this method, particles arecoated with nucleic acids and delivered into cells by a propellingforce. Exemplary particles include those comprised of tungsten,platinum, and preferably, gold. For the bombardment, cells in suspensionare concentrated on filters or solid culture medium. Alternatively,immature embryos or other target cells may be arranged on solid culturemedium. The cells to be bombarded are positioned at an appropriatedistance below the macroprojectile stopping plate.

An illustrative embodiment of a method for delivering DNA into plantcells by acceleration is the Biolistics Particle Delivery System, whichcan be used to propel particles coated with DNA or cells through ascreen, such as a stainless steel or Nytex screen, onto a surfacecovered with target cells. The screen disperses the particles so thatthey are not delivered to the recipient cells in large aggregates.Microprojectile bombardment techniques are widely applicable, and may beused to transform virtually any plant species.

Agrobacterium-mediated transfer is another widely applicable system forintroducing gene loci into plant cells. An advantage of the technique isthat DNA can be introduced into whole plant tissues, thereby bypassingthe need for regeneration of an intact plant from a protoplast. ModernAgrobacterium transformation vectors are capable of replication in E.coli as well as Agrobacterium, allowing for convenient manipulations(Klee et al., Bio-Technology, 3(7):637-642, 1985). Moreover, recenttechnological advances in vectors for Agrobacterium-mediated genetransfer have improved the arrangement of genes and restriction sites inthe vectors to facilitate the construction of vectors capable ofexpressing various polypeptide coding genes. The vectors described haveconvenient multi-linker regions flanked by a promoter and apolyadenylation site for direct expression of inserted polypeptidecoding genes. Additionally, Agrobacterium containing both armed anddisarmed Ti genes can be used for transformation.

In those plant strains where Agrobacterium-mediated transformation isefficient, it is the method of choice because of the facile and definednature of the gene locus transfer. The use of Agrobacterium-mediatedplant integrating vectors to introduce DNA into plant cells is wellknown in the art (Fraley et al., Bio/Technology, 3:629-635, 1985; U.S.Pat. No. 5,563,055).

Transformation of plant protoplasts also can be achieved using methodsbased on calcium phosphate precipitation, polyethylene glycol treatment,electroporation, and combinations of these treatments (see, e.g.,Potrykus et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 199:183-188, 1985; Omirulleh et al.,Plant Mol. Biol., 21(3):415-428, 1993; Fromm et al., Nature,312:791-793, 1986; Uchimiya et al., Mol. Gen. Genet., 204:204, 1986;Marcotte et al., Nature, 335:454, 1988). Transformation of plants andexpression of foreign genetic elements is exemplified in Choi et al.(Plant Cell Rep., 13: 344-348, 1994), and Ellul et al. (Theor. Appl.Genet., 107:462-469, 2003).

A number of promoters have utility for plant gene expression for anygene of interest including but not limited to selectable markers,scoreable markers, genes for pest tolerance, disease resistance,nutritional enhancements and any other gene of agronomic interest.Examples of constitutive promoters useful for plant gene expressioninclude, but are not limited to, the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV)P-35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression inmost plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., Nature, 313:810, 1985),including in monocots (see, e.g., Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell, 2:591,1990; Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet., 220:389, 1990); a tandemlyduplicated version of the CaMV 35S promoter, the enhanced 35S promoter(P-e35S); 1 the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., Plant Physiol.,88:547, 1988); the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., Plant Cell,1:977, 1989); and the figwort mosaic virus (P-FMV) promoter as describedin U.S. Pat. No. 5,378,619 and an enhanced version of the FMV promoter(P-eFMV) where the promoter sequence of P-FMV is duplicated in tandem;the cauliflower mosaic virus 19S promoter; a sugarcane bacilliform viruspromoter; a commelina yellow mottle virus promoter; and other plant DNAvirus promoters known to express in plant cells.

A variety of plant gene promoters that are regulated in response toenvironmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals can alsobe used for expression of an operably linked gene in plant cells,including promoters regulated by (1) heat (Callis et al., PlantPhysiol., 88:965, 1988), (2) light (e.g., pea rbcS-3A promoter,Kuhlemeier et al., Plant Cell, 1:471, 1989; maize rbcS promoter,Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell, 3:997, 1991; or chlorophyll a/b-bindingprotein promoter, Simpson et al., EMBO J., 4:2723, 1985), (3) hormones,such as abscisic acid (Marcotte et al., Plant Cell, 1:969, 1989), (4)wounding (e.g., wunl, Siebertz et al., Plant Cell, 1:961, 1989); or (5)chemicals such as methyl jasmonate, salicylic acid, or Safener. It mayalso be advantageous to employ organ-specific promoters (e.g., Roshal etal., EMBO J., 6:1155, 1987; Schernthaner et al., EMBO J., 7:1249, 1988;Bustos et al., Plant Cell, 1:839, 1989).

Exemplary nucleic acids which may be introduced to plants of thisinvention include, for example, DNA sequences or genes from anotherspecies, or even genes or sequences which originate with or are presentin the same species, but are incorporated into recipient cells bygenetic engineering methods rather than classical reproduction orbreeding techniques. However, the term “exogenous” is also intended torefer to genes that are not normally present in the cell beingtransformed, or perhaps simply not present in the form, structure, etc.,as found in the transforming DNA segment or gene, or genes which arenormally present and that one desires to express in a manner thatdiffers from the natural expression pattern, e.g., to over-express.Thus, the term “exogenous” gene or DNA is intended to refer to any geneor DNA segment that is introduced into a recipient cell, regardless ofwhether a similar gene may already be present in such a cell. The typeof DNA included in the exogenous DNA can include DNA which is alreadypresent in the plant cell, DNA from another plant, DNA from a differentorganism, or a DNA generated externally, such as a DNA sequencecontaining an antisense message of a gene, or a DNA sequence encoding asynthetic or modified version of a gene.

Many hundreds if not thousands of different genes are known and couldpotentially be introduced into a pepper plant according to theinvention. Non-limiting examples of particular genes and correspondingphenotypes one may choose to introduce into a pepper plant include oneor more genes for insect tolerance, such as a Bacillus thuringiensis(B.t.) gene, pest tolerance such as genes for fungal disease control,herbicide tolerance such as genes conferring glyphosate tolerance, andgenes for quality improvements such as yield, nutritional enhancements,environmental or stress tolerances, or any desirable changes in plantphysiology, growth, development, morphology or plant product(s). Forexample, structural genes would include any gene that confers insecttolerance including but not limited to a Bacillus insect control proteingene as described in WO 99/31248, herein incorporated by reference inits entirety, U.S. Pat. No. 5,689,052, herein incorporated by referencein its entirety, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,500,365 and 5,880,275, hereinincorporated by reference in their entirety. In another embodiment, thestructural gene can confer tolerance to the herbicide glyphosate asconferred by genes including, but not limited to Agrobacterium strainCP4 glyphosate resistant EPSPS gene (aroA:CP4) as described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,633,435, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety, orglyphosate oxidoreductase gene (GOX) as described in U.S. Pat. No.5,463,175, herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Alternatively, the DNA coding sequences can affect these phenotypes byencoding a non-translatable RNA molecule that causes the targetedinhibition of expression of an endogenous gene, for example viaantisense- or cosuppression-mediated mechanisms (see, for example, Birdet al., Biotech. Gen. Engin. Rev., 9:207, 1991). The RNA could also be acatalytic RNA molecule (i.e., a ribozyme) engineered to cleave a desiredendogenous mRNA product (see for example, Gibson and Shillito, Mol.Biotech., 7:125, 1997). Thus, any gene which produces a protein or mRNAwhich expresses a phenotype or morphology change of interest is usefulfor the practice of the present invention.

G. Definitions

In the description and tables herein, a number of terms are used. Inorder to provide a clear and consistent understanding of thespecification and claims, the following definitions are provided:

Allele:

Any of one or more alternative forms of a gene locus, all of whichalleles relate to one trait or characteristic. In a diploid cell ororganism, the two alleles of a given gene occupy corresponding loci on apair of homologous chromosomes.

Backcrossing:

A process in which a breeder repeatedly crosses hybrid progeny, forexample a first generation hybrid (F₁), back to one of the parents ofthe hybrid progeny. Backcrossing can be used to introduce one or moresingle locus conversions from one genetic background into another.

Crossing:

The mating of two parent plants.

Cross-pollination:

Fertilization by the union of two gametes from different plants.

Diploid:

A cell or organism having two sets of chromosomes.

Emasculate:

The removal of plant male sex organs or the inactivation of the organswith a cytoplasmic or nuclear genetic factor or a chemical agentconferring male sterility.

Enzymes:

Molecules which can act as catalysts in biological reactions.

F₁ Hybrid:

The first generation progeny of the cross of two nonisogenic plants.

Genotype:

The genetic constitution of a cell or organism.

Haploid:

A cell or organism having one set of the two sets of chromosomes in adiploid.

Linkage:

A phenomenon wherein alleles on the same chromosome tend to segregatetogether more often than expected by chance if their transmission wasindependent.

Marker:

A readily detectable phenotype, preferably inherited in codominantfashion (both alleles at a locus in a diploid heterozygote are readilydetectable), with no environmental variance component, i.e.,heritability of 1.

Phenotype:

The detectable characteristics of a cell or organism, whichcharacteristics are the manifestation of gene expression.

Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL):

Quantitative trait loci (QTL) refer to genetic loci that control to somedegree numerically representable traits that are usually continuouslydistributed.

Resistance:

As used herein, the terms “resistance” and “tolerance” are usedinterchangeably to describe plants that show no symptoms to a specifiedbiotic pest, pathogen, abiotic influence or environmental condition.These terms are also used to describe plants showing some symptoms butthat are still able to produce marketable product with an acceptableyield. Some plants that are referred to as resistant or tolerant areonly so in the sense that they may still produce a crop, even though theplants are stunted and the yield is reduced.

Regeneration:

The development of a plant from tissue culture.

Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) color chart value:

The RHS color chart is a standardized reference which allows accurateidentification of any color. A color's designation on the chartdescribes its hue, brightness and saturation. A color is precisely namedby the RHS color chart by identifying the group name, sheet number andletter, e.g., Yellow-Orange Group 19A or Red Group 41B.

Self-pollination:

The transfer of pollen from the anther to the stigma of the same plant.

Single Locus Converted (Conversion) Plant:

Plants which are developed by a plant breeding technique calledbackcrossing, wherein essentially all of the morphological andphysiological characteristics of a pepper variety are recovered inaddition to the characteristics of the single locus transferred into thevariety via the backcrossing technique and/or by genetic transformation.

Substantially Equivalent:

A characteristic that, when compared, does not show a statisticallysignificant difference (e.g., p=0.05) from the mean.

Tissue Culture:

A composition comprising isolated cells of the same or a different typeor a collection of such cells organized into parts of a plant.

Transgene:

A genetic locus comprising a sequence which has been introduced into thegenome of a pepper plant by transformation.

H. Deposit Information

A deposit of pepper hybrid PS 16376104 and inbred parent lines SBR163-5031 and SBR 163-5030, disclosed above and recited in the claims,has been made with the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC), 10801University Blvd., Manassas, Va. 20110-2209. The date of deposit was Nov.18, 2011. The accession numbers for those deposited seeds of pepperhybrid PS 16376104 and inbred parent lines SBR 163-5031 and SBR 163-5030are ATCC Accession No. PTA-12266, ATCC Accession No. PTA-12264, and ATCCAccession No. PTA-12265, respectively. Upon issuance of a patent, allrestrictions upon the deposits will be removed, and the deposits areintended to meet all of the requirements of 37 C.F.R. §1.801-1.809. Thedeposits will be maintained in the depository for a period of 30 years,or 5 years after the last request, or for the effective life of thepatent, whichever is longer, and will be replaced if necessary duringthat period.

Although the foregoing invention has been described in some detail byway of illustration and example for purposes of clarity andunderstanding, it will be obvious that certain changes and modificationsmay be practiced within the scope of the invention, as limited only bythe scope of the appended claims.

All references cited herein are hereby expressly incorporated herein byreference.

What is claimed is:
 1. A pepper plant comprising at least a first set ofthe chromosomes of pepper line SBR 163-5031 or pepper line SBR 163-5030,a sample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-12264 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-12265,respectively.
 2. A seed comprising at least a first set of thechromosomes of pepper line SBR 163-5031 or pepper line SBR 163-5030, asample of seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-12264 and ATCC Accession Number PTA-12265, respectively. 3.The plant of claim 1, which is inbred.
 4. The plant of claim 1, which ishybrid.
 5. The seed of claim 2, which is inbred.
 6. The seed of claim 2,which is hybrid.
 7. The plant of claim 4, wherein the hybrid plant ispepper hybrid PS 16376104, a sample of seed of said hybrid PS 16376104having been deposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12266.
 8. The seedof claim 6, defined as a seed of pepper hybrid PS 16376104, a sample ofseed of said hybrid PS 16376104 having been deposited under ATCCAccession Number PTA-12266.
 9. The seed of claim 2, defined as a seed ofline SBR 163-5031 or line SBR 163-5030.
 10. A plant part of the plant ofclaim
 1. 11. The plant part of claim 10, further defined as a leaf, aovule, pollen, a fruit, or a cell.
 12. A pepper plant having all thephysiological and morphological characteristics of the pepper plant ofclaim
 7. 13. A tissue culture of regenerable cells of the plant ofclaim
 1. 14. The tissue culture according to claim 13, comprising cellsor protoplasts from a plant part selected from the group consisting ofembryos, meristems, cotyledons, pollen, leaves, anthers, roots, roottips, pistil, flower, seed and stalks.
 15. A pepper plant regeneratedfrom the tissue culture of claim
 13. 16. A method of vegetativelypropagating the plant of claim 1 comprising the steps of: (a) collectingtissue capable of being propagated from a plant according to claim 1;(b) cultivating said tissue to obtain proliferated shoots; and (c)rooting said proliferated shoots to obtain rooted plantlets.
 17. Themethod of claim 16, further comprising growing at least a first plantfrom said rooted plantlets.
 18. A method of introducing a desired traitinto a pepper line comprising: (a) crossing a plant of line SBR 163-5031or SBR 163-5030 with a second pepper plant that comprises a desiredtrait to produce F1 progeny, a sample of seed of said lines having beendeposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12264, and ATCC AccessionNumber PTA-12265, respectively; (b) selecting an F1 progeny thatcomprises the desired trait; (c) backcrossing the selected F1 progenywith a plant of line SBR 163-5031 or SBR 163-5030 to produce backcrossprogeny; (d) selecting backcross progeny comprising the desired traitand the physiological and morphological characteristic of pepper lineSBR 163-5031 or SBR 163-5030; and (e) repeating steps (c) and (d) threeor more times to produce selected fourth or higher backcross progenythat comprise the desired trait.
 19. A pepper plant produced by themethod of claim
 18. 20. A method of producing a plant comprising anadded trait, the method comprising introducing a transgene conferringthe trait into a plant of hybrid PS 16376104, line SBR 163-5031 or lineSBR 163-5030, a sample of seed of said hybrid and lines having beendeposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12266, ATCC Accession NumberPTA-12264, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-12265, respectively.
 21. Aplant produced by the method of claim
 20. 22. The plant of claim 1,comprising a transgene.
 23. The plant of claim 22, wherein the transgeneconfers a trait selected from the group consisting of male sterility,herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance, diseaseresistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stresstolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified proteinmetabolism.
 24. The plant of claim 1, comprising a single locusconversion.
 25. The plant of claim 24, wherein the single locusconversion confers a trait selected from the group consisting of malesterility, herbicide tolerance, insect resistance, pest resistance,disease resistance, modified fatty acid metabolism, environmental stresstolerance, modified carbohydrate metabolism and modified proteinmetabolism.
 26. A method for producing a seed of a plant derived from atleast one of hybrid PS 16376104, line SBR 163-5031 or line SBR 163-5030comprising the steps of: (a) crossing a pepper plant of hybrid PS16376104, line SBR 163-5031 or line SBR 163-5030 with itself or a secondpepper plant; a sample of seed of said hybrid and lines having beendeposited under ATCC Accession Number PTA-12266, ATCC Accession NumberPTA-12264, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-12265, respectively; and (b)allowing seed of a hybrid PS 16376104, line SBR 163-5031 or line SBR163-5030-derived pepper plant to form.
 27. The method of claim 26,further comprising the steps of: (c) selfing a plant grown from saidhybrid PS 16376104, SBR 163-5031 or SBR 163-5030-derived pepper seed toyield additional hybrid PS 16376104, line SBR 163-5031 or line SBR163-5030-derived pepper seed; (d) growing said additional hybrid PS16376104, line SBR 163-5031 or line SBR 163-5030-derived pepper seed ofstep (c) to yield additional hybrid PS 16376104, line SBR 163-5031 orline SBR 163-5030-derived pepper plants; and (e) repeating the crossingand growing steps of (c) and (d) to generate at least a first furtherhybrid PS 16376104, line SBR 163-5031 or line SBR 163-5030-derivedpepper plant.
 28. The method of claim 26, wherein the second pepperplant is of an inbred pepper line.
 29. The method of claim 26,comprising crossing line SBR 163-5031 with line SBR 163-5030, a sampleof seed of said lines having been deposited under ATCC Accession NumberPTA-12264, and ATCC Accession Number PTA-12265, respectively.
 30. Themethod of claim 27, further comprising: (f) crossing the further hybridPS 16376104, SBR 163-5031 or SBR 163-5030-derived pepper plant with asecond pepper plant to produce seed of a hybrid progeny plant.
 31. Aplant part of the plant of claim
 7. 32. The plant part of claim 31,further defined as a leaf, a flower, a fruit, an ovule, pollen, or acell.
 33. A method of producing a pepper seed comprising crossing theplant of claim 1 with itself or a second pepper plant and allowing seedto form.
 34. A method of producing a pepper fruit comprising: (a)obtaining a plant according to claim 1, wherein the plant has beencultivated to maturity; and (b) collecting a pepper from the plant.